Duale: No to bill on governors immunity

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has said the House will shoot down proposed legislation by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei seeking to grant immunity to sitting governors.

Mr Duale warned that it would be an exercise in futility for the Senate to pass the Bill seeking to protect governors from prosecution while in office, promising that the proposed legislstion would find its Waterloo in the National Assembly.

The Garissa Township MP riled at Mr Charargei, his colleague in the Jubilee party, terming his proposal as meant to entrench impunity and corruption in counties.

“Senator Cherargei is abusing his office as the chairman of the Senate’s Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee. His proposal will only perpetuate impunity and corruption, which is against the president and Jubilee Party’s resolve to fight the vice,” said Duale yesterday.

He, however, said that while Cherargei is at liberty to proceed with his proposal, he must realise in advance that such a Bill is unpopular in the National Assembly and would not be entertained by the House.   

Cherargei has defended the move to grant immunity to the county bosses arguing that this was the only way to protect devolution, as it would ensure that the governors are in office for the tenure of their term and only held to account once they leave office.